First India, US, Japan Ministerial-Level Meet Tomorrow

File Photo: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

New York:  The first foreign minister-level between India, the US and Japan would be held in New York tomorrow, reflecting alignment of the three Asia Pacific powers, which officials said was aimed at ensuring peace, prosperity and security in the region.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, US Secretary of State John Kerry and Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida are scheduled to meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly Session.

This is the first ministerial-level meeting between the three countries which was decided during the last week’s India US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue.

Kerry-Swaraj-Kishida meeting comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met US President Barack Obama during which the current situation in the Asia Pacific region was discussed.

“I welcome the progress in giving shape to our joint strategic vision on our Asia Pacific and Indian Ocean region, and also our joint engagement with regional partners like Japan,” PM Modi said during his brief joint media appearance with Obama.

“This will also strengthen our maritime security cooperation,” PM Modi said.

“To further increase our strategic engagement in the region, I look forward to work with the US for India’s membership of Asian Pacific Economic Community,” he added.

Officials here said the trilateral meeting was aimed at ensuring peace, prosperity and security in the region.